Read the Senate resolution honoring Prince

“While the Senate may disagree on a lot of issues, today we agreed on one: Prince was a one-of-a-kind artist, fiercely independent and uniquely talented,” Klobuchar said. “For Minnesotans, Prince was our superstar next door. He made ‘Purple Rain’ a household name, First Avenue a landmark, and brought international fame to Minnesota’s music scene. He will be missed.”

The text of the resolution, which passed by voice vote, follows:

“Whereas Prince Rogers Nelson (referred to in this preamble as “Prince”) was born on June 7, 1958, in Minneapolis, Minnesota;

Whereas Prince developed an interest in music at an early age and wrote his first song at the age of 7 years;

Whereas Prince pioneered the Minneapolis sound, which is a mixture of funk, rock, and pop that emerged in the late 1970s and 1980s and influenced music for decades;

Whereas Prince and his band, the Revolution, shot many scenes of the classic film “Purple Rain” at First Avenue, making the downtown Minneapolis music venue a landmark;

Whereas Prince was a superstar composer, an amazing performer, and a music innovator with a fierce belief in the independence of his art;

Whereas Prince-

(1) sold more than 100,000,000 records worldwide;

(2) released 39 studio albums;

(3) had 5 number 1 Billboard hits; and

(4) had 40 singles in the top 100 songs;

Whereas Prince won 7 Grammy Awards, an Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award;

Whereas Prince was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2004, the first year in which Prince was eligible for induction;

Whereas in 2010, Prince accepted a Black Entertainment Television Lifetime Achievement Award;

Whereas Prince wrote songs about Minnesota sports teams, including “Purple and Gold” during the Minnesota Viking’s run to the 2010 National Football Conference championship game, and held a concert for the Minnesota Lynx after the Minnesota Lynx won their third Women’s National Basketball Association championship;

Whereas even after all of his success, Prince still called the State of Minnesota home and never lost the sense that he was a beloved son, a neighbor, and the superstar next door;

Whereas Prince reminded the people of the United States that “there’s a world waiting for us after this life, a world of never ending happiness, where you can always see the sun, day or night”; and

Whereas on April 21, 2016, Prince passed away at his Paisley Park Estate in Chanhassen, Minnesota, leaving behind millions of fans and a legacy of music that touched hearts, opened minds, and made the people of the United States want to dance: Now, therefore, be it

Resolved, That the Senate honors the life of Prince Rogers Nelson and his achievements as a musician, composer, innovator, and cultural icon.”